Students’ election heats up varsity campus weather

AISF members plan their election campaign at a meeting on Patna University campus on Monday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Winter seems to have stopped outside the Patna University campus, where things are steadily heating up for the students’ union elections next month.

A flurry of activities has ensued on the main campus of the varsity as well as the colleges under it since the model code of conduct came into effect on November 23.

Students contesting for the posts and those who would vote are equally excited about the elections being organised after 29 years. The budding politicians have started chalking out their election strategy. The electorate are eagerly waiting to voice their demands to their representatives.

The varsity authorities are also padding up to conduct the event smoothly.

On Monday, members of All India Students’ Federation (AISF) held a meeting on the PU campus to discuss strategy. Sushil Kumar, one of the members of the AISF, said: “The main issue on which we would contest the elections is the improvement of academic atmosphere on the campus. We also want the university to resume the bus service for the convenience of students.”

The university used to operate a bus service for students around 20 years ago. But it was suspended.

“If the service is re-introduced, students would have no problem in reaching classes on time,” said Sushil.

Another organisation that has a pervasive presence in Patna University is Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) — the students’ wing of the BJP. Its members, too, are busy planning how to woo voters.

“Renovation of hostels and security of female students on the campus would be our main election issues,” said ABVP member Ghanshyam Singh.

One of the campaign strategies that most organisations have adopted is to meet students on the campus during the day and approach the hostel boarders in the evening.

Though most students’ wings of political parties and autonomous organisations like All India Backward Students’ Forum and All India Students’ Bloc are working as groups to chalk out their game plan, the candidates would have to contest individually.

Varsity authorities are also chalking out their election strategies so that there are no glitches.

U.K. Sinha, the chairperson of the PU election committee, said: “The entire election process has to be completed within 10 working days. Statistics department head Amarendra Mishra has been appointed the returning officer for the elections.”

The polling would be conducted on December 11. Nominations would be submitted on November 30 and December 1.